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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[L.

paternitas

: cf. F.

paternité

. See

The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; family headship;

as, the divine

paternity

The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other dominion than

paternity

and eldership.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage;

as, the

paternity

of a child

Origin; authorship.

The

paternity

of these novels was . . . disputed.

Sir W. Scott.

Noun.

Fathership; the relation of a father.

The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other dominion than paternity and eldership.